I was surprised at some of the responses concerning Prince Harry and his cannabis smoking and under-age drinking.

It seems it has been accepted by some as either part of growing up or "isn't it funny when someone in the public eye does something wrong".

Out come all the do-gooders, saying there is so much help for young people.

Well, I would like to know where all this help was when I needed it.

When my daughter was 16 and drinking excessively and taking drugs, I was frowned upon. I was made to feel as if I was to blame.

It was suggested she either came from a deprived background or something had happened in her childhood to trigger off this behaviour - neither applied.

I sought help everywhere - social services, drug rehabilitation units, police - but kept coming up against a brick wall.

I was told there was nothing for under-18s and it was part of growing up.

I was not in a position to be able to just walk into a rehabilitation clinic for two hours so my daughter could talk to recovering drug addicts or alcoholics so they could tell her the consequences if she carried on.

I was told by social services I could not confine my daughter to the home against her will. I could not punish her in any physical way but I was still responsible for her actions because of her age.

Where is the help when ordinary people, like myself, are crying out for it? I even tried to have my daughter committed to a secure hospital for her own safety.

I was so afraid she would end up killing herself. At the age of 17, she got a 12-month prison sentence for a drug-related crime.

I thought this could be her turning-point, that she would get help, but all she got was medication. She was on suicide watch and was self-harming.

There was no offer of help on her release. She is now 21 and nearing the end of another prison sentence, for two-and-a-half years, again drug-related, but this time she has received intense rehabilitation for drugs and drinking which will carry on after her release.

If this help had been available when she was 16, she might have had the chance to do something with her life.

But she has spent the last four years either in prison or on the streets with other drug addicts, under the influence of drink and drugs, and there was nothing I could do.

It is about time the Government woke up and realised 14-18-year-olds need help.

Tony Blair should know how it feels to be a parent not in control of a teenager's actions.

The amount of under-age drinkers and drug users is growing rapidly.

The amount of drug-related crime has risen dramatically in the young and it does not matter what background they come from, be it poor, rich or famous.

These teenagers are at risk and there is not enough help for them or their parents.

Prince Charles got a pat on the back for acting so quickly and doing the right thing.

What have I got? The feeling of failure as a mother.

-Name and address supplied